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A paper submitted by Minnie B. Ross
1-26-37
Emmaline Heard is a small, dark brown skinned woman who appears to be about 67 but is probably older. Her mind seems to be active, however, as she responds quickly to questions and expresses herself intelligently.
Henry County, near McDonough, Ga., is Emmaline's birthplace. Judging from her earliest childhood memories and what she learned from her mother, her birth must have occurred four or five years before freedom. Her parents, Lewis and Caroline Harper had eleven children, of whom she was the second youngest.
Mr. Roger and Mrs. Frances Harper were the owners of the Heard family. The large Harper plantation was located near McDonough, bordering the McDonough highway. The Harper home, a large 2-story frame dwelling, faced the highway. The family consisted of twin boys and two girls, in addition to the father and mother. They also owned a large number of slaves, who occupied two rows of cabins, built close together, at some distance behind the "big house."
In those days before the War, slaves were moved from place to place and from State to State in droves, known as "speculators' droves," and sold at public auction. Emmaline Heard's father was born in Virginia, but was brought to Georgia and sold to the Harpers as a plow boy, at the age of eleven.
The slave's cabins were constructed of rough-hewn logs, with the cracks daubed with mud and, as Emmaline recalled it, were very warm; warmer, in fact, than many of their houses are today. The furniture consisted of a "corded" bed, wooden tables and benches. This "corded" bed was constructed by running rope or cord from the head to the foot and then from side to side. A wooden peg was driven into the holes to hold the cord in place. Pegs were a household necessity and had to be cared for just as a key is today. Most homes also included a quilt slab, a sort of table used to place quilts on, as a necessary part of the furniture.
Every woman had a certain amount of weaving and spinning to do at home after coming in from the fields. Emmaline says her mother had to card bats at night so that the two older sisters could begin spinning the next morning. A loom was almost as large as a small kitchen and was operated by hands and feet. Until midnight, the spinning wheels could be heard humming in the slave cabins. At the hour of twelve, however, a bell was rung, which was the signal for the slaves to cease their spinning and go to bed.
Dye for coloring the cloth was provided by collecting sweet gum, dogwood bark, and red clay. Mixing these together produced different colors of dye. Sweet gum and clay produced a purple; dogwood, a blue.
Two dresses a year were allowed the women, while two cotton shirts and two pair of cotton pants were given the men. Everyone received one pair of shoes. Emmaline's father was a shoemaker by trade and made shoes for both slaves and the Harper family. The slaves shoes were called "nigger shoes," and made from rough horse and mule hide. The white folks' shoes were made from soft calf leather. Mr. Harper had a tanning vat on his plantation especially for the purpose of tanning hides for their shoes. Emmaline said these tanning vats reminded her of baptismal holes. The water was very deep, and once her sister almost drowned in one. Barks of various kinds were placed in the water in these vats to produce an acid which would remove the hair from the hides. Layers of goat, calf, and horse hides were placed in the vats and, after a certain length of time, removed and dried.
Meals on week days consisted principally of syrup and bread and they were glad, Emmaline stated, to see Saturday come, because they knew they would have biscuit made from 'seconds' on Sunday. Butter seems to have been a delicacy but little known. "The only butter I remember eating before we were freed," Emmaline declared, "was that which my little mistress Fannie would slip to me." This led her mother to say, "Miss Fannie is so crazy about 'Em' I am going to give 'Em' to her for a cook."
Besides working as a plow hand, Emmaline's mother assisted Aunt Celia Travis in preparing the meals for the Harper family. Four or five pots each containing a different kind of food hung over the fire along the long fireplace. Just before dinner, the mistress would come in to inspect the cooking. If the food in any of the pots was not cooked to her satisfaction, she would sometimes lose her temper, remove her slipper and strike the cook.
Slaves on the Harper plantation arose when the horn was sounded at four o'clock and hurried to the fields, although they would sometimes have to wait for daylight to dawn to see how to work. The overseer rode over the plantation watching the slaves at work and keeping account of the amount of work performed by each. Any who failed to complete their quota at the close of the day were punished.
On the Harper plantation, a brush arbor was used for the slave's church. The trees and underbrush were cleared away to provide a sufficient space to accommodate the slaves and the trees evened off at a good height and the brush and limbs piled on top to form a roof. In rainy weather, of course, church services could not be held. Sometimes the slaves would slip behind the trees beside the white folks' church and listen to the singing and preaching. They would then go back to their brush arbor church and preach the same gospel and sing the same songs they had heard in the white people's church.
Frolics were often given on the Harper plantation. They usually consisted of dancing and banjo playing. Slaves fron other plantations sometimes attended, but it was necessary to secure a pass from their master and mistress in order to do so. A prize was given to the person who could "buck dance" the steadiest with a tumbler of water balanced on the head. A cake or a quilt was often given as the prize.
A marriage ceremony was performed after both owners had given their consent, when bride and groom did not belong to the same master. Often neither owner would sell their slave to the other, in which case it was necessary for the husband to be given a pass in order to visit his wife.
Slaves were given treatment by the doctor when they became ill, but if the doctor stated that the slave was well enough to work, they had to go to the fields. Sick babies were left at home while the parents were at work in the field. Ho matter what sickness the child suffered, castor oil was the only remedy ever given.
Slaves who chanced to be visiting away from his plantation without a pass from his owner would be severely handled if caught by the Ku Klux Klan or "patterrollers" as they were more commonly called. Fear of the "patterrollers" was invoked to frighten children into good behavior.
A few Civil War incidents impressed themselves upon Emmaline's memory although she was a very young child at the time. One day, she recalls, as she and her little mistress Fannie sat on the front fence facing the highway they saw a cloud of dust in the distance down the highway and soon a troop of soldiers in blue and silver uniforms marched by. The children, frightened by the sight of these strange soldiers, ran to the house to tell the mistress. Mrs. Harper instructed Emmaline's mother to run to the smokehouse, lock the door and bring her the key. In a few minutes the soldiers tramped into the kitchen and ate all of the food they could find. When they found the smokehouse locked they demanded the key from Mrs. Harper, and when she refused proceeded to break down the door and appropriated all the meat they could conveniently carry. They also robbed the cellar of its store of jellies and preserves, hitched the buggy mare to the wagon and drove off with the best of the mules tied behind, as Mrs. Harper and the family looked on in tears.
When the Harpers learned that the slaves were free, they offered Emmaline's father and mother a house, mule, hog, and cow if they would remain on their plantation, but they thought they might fare better elsewhere and hired out to a plantation owner in an adjoining county.
A few years later, when she became old enough to obtain on her own account, she cam to Atlanta where she has lived ever since. She is now being cared for by a grand-daughter and a son. She is an ardent admirer of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and declared she would like to vote for him a hundred times.
Heard, Emmaline -- Additional Interview
Mrs. Emmaline Heard, who resides at 239 Cain St. NE has proved to be a regular storehouse for conjure and ghost stories. Not only this but she is a frim believer in the practice of conjure. To back up her belfef in conjure is her appearance. She is a dark brown-skinned woman of medium height and always wears a dirty towel on her head. The towel which was at one time white gives her the weird look of an old-time fortune teller.
Tuesday, December 8, 1936 a visit was made to her home and the following information was secured:
"There was onct a house in McDonough and it was owned by the Smiths that was slave owners way back yonder. Now, this is the trufe cause it was told ter me by old Uncle Joe Turner and he 'spirience it. Nobody could live in this house I don't care how they tried. Dey say this house was hanted and anybody that tired to stay there was pulled out of bed by a hant. Well, sir, they offered the house and $1,000 to anyone who could stay there over night. Uncle Joe said he decided to try it so sho nuff he got ready one night and went ter this house to stay. After while, says he, something come in the room and started over ter the bed, but fore it got there, he said, "What in the name of the Lord you want with me. "It said, 'follow me. There is a pot of gold buried near the chimney; go find it and you won't be worried with me no more. Der next morning Uncle Joe went out there and begin ter dig and sho nuff he found the gold; and sided that he got the house. Dis here is the trufe. Uncle Joe's house is right there in McDonough now and anybody round there will tell you the same thing cause he was well-known. Uncle Joe is dead now.
"Anudder story that happened during slavery time and was told ter me by father was this; The master had a old man on his plantation named Jimson. Well, Jimson's wife was sick and had been fer nearly a year. One day there she wanted some peas, black gyed peas; but old man Harper didn't have none on his plantation, so Jimson planned ter steal off that night and go ter old Marse Daniel's farm, which was 4 miles from Marse Harper's farm, and steal a few peas for his wife. Well, between midnight and day he got a sack and started off down the road. Long after while a owl started hootin, sho-o-o are-e-e, who-o o-o-, and it wounded jest lak someone saying "who are you." Jimson got scared, pulled off his cap and run all the way to old man Daniel's farm. As he run he was saying, "Sir, dis is me, old Jimson' over and over again. Now, when he got near the farm Old Daniel heard him and got up in the loft ter watch him. Finally old Jimson got dar and started creeping up in the left. When he got up dar, chile, Marse Daniel grabbed his whip and 'most beat Jimson ter death.
"This here story happened in Mississippi years ago, but den folks that tell it ter me said it was the trufe. 'There was a woman that was sick; her name was Mary Jones. Well, she lingered and lingered till she finally died. In them days folks all around would come ter the settin-up if somebody was dead. They done sent some men after the casket. Since they had ter go 30 miles they was a good while getting back, so the folkses decided ter sing. After while they heard the men come up on the porch and somebody got up ter let 'em in. Chile, jest as they opened the door that 'oman set straight up on that bed; and sech another runnin and getting out of that house you never heard; but some folks realized she wuzn't dead so they got the casket out der way so she wouldn't see it, cause they was fraid she would pass out sho nuff; jest the same they was fraid of her, too. The man went off and come back with pistols, guns, sticks, and everything; and when this 'oman saw 'em she said, 'don't run, I won't bother you'. but, chile, they left there in a big hurry, too. Well, this here Mary went to her sister's house and knocked on the door, and said: 'Let me in. This is Mary. I want to talk to you and tell you where I've been.' The sister's husband opened the door and let her in. This 'oman told 'em that God had brought her to and that she had been in a trance with the Lord. After that every one was always afraid of that 'oman and they wouldn't even sit next ter her in the church. They say she is still living.
This happened right yonder in McDonough years ago. A gal went to a party with her sweet'art and her ma told her not ter go. Well, she went on anyhow in a buggy; when they got ter the railroad crossing a train hit the buggy and killed the gal, but the boy didn't git hurted at all. Well, while they was sittin up with this dead gal, the boy comes long there in his buggy with anudder gal, and do you know that horse stopped right in front uv that house and wouldn't budge one inch. No matter how hard he whip that horse it wouldn't move; instid he rared and kicked and jumped about and almost turned the buggy over. The gal in the buggy fainted. Finally a old slavery time man come along and told him to git a quart of whiskey and pour it around the buggy and the hant would go away. So they done that and the sperit let 'em pass. If a hant laked whisky in they lifetime, and you pour it round where they's at, they will go away."
The following are true conjure stories supposedly witnessed by Mrs. Heard: "There was a Rev. Dennis that lived below the Federal Prison. Now, he quz the preacher of the Hardshell Baptist Church in this community. This man stayed sick about a year and kept gittin different doctors and none uv them did him any good. Well, his wife kept on at him till he decided ter go ter see Dr. Geech. His complaint was that he felt something run up his legs ter his thighs. Old Dr. Geech told him that he had snakes in his body and they quz put there by the lady he had been going wid. Dr. Geech give him some medicine ter take and told him that on the 7th day from then that 'oman would come and take the medicine off the shelf and throw it away. Course Rev. Dennis didn't believe a thing he said, so she nuff she come jest lak Dr. Geech said and took the medicine away. Dr. Geech told him that he would die when the snakes got up in his arm, but if he would do lak he told him he would get all right. Dis 'oman had put this stuff in some whiskey and be drunk it so the snakes breed in his body. After he quit taking the medicine he got bad off and had ter stay in the bed; sho nuff the morning he died you could see the snake in his arm; the print uv it was there when he died. The snake stretched out in his arm and died, too.
"I got a son named Jack Heard. Well, somebody fixed him. I was in Chicago when that happened and my daughter kept writing ter me ter come home cause Jack was acting funny and she thought maybe he was losing his mind. They was living in Thomasville then and every day he would go sit round the store and laugh and talk, but jest as soon as night would come and he would eat his supper them fits would come on him. He would squeal jest lak a pig and he would get down on his knees and bark jest lak a dog. Well, I come home and went oer see a old conjure doctor. He says ter me, 'that boy is hurt and when you go home you look in the corner of the mattress and you will find it. 'Sho nuff I went home and looked in the corner of the mattress and there the package was. It was a mixture of his hair and bluestone wrapped up in red flannel with new needles running all through it. When I went bake he says ter me, "Emmaline, have you got 8 times ?' No, I said, but I got a dollar. 'Well, get that dollar changed into 10 dimes and take 8 of 'em and give 'em ter me. Then he took Jack in a room, took off his clothes and started ter rubbin him down with medicine; all at the same time he was saying a ceremony over him; then he took them 8 dimes, put 'em in a bag and tied them around Jack's chest somewhere so that they would hang over his heart. 'Now, wear them always,' says he ter Jack. Jack wore them dimes a long time but he finally drunk 'em up anyway, that doctor unred him cause he sho would a died."
The following aroma few facts as related by Mrs. Heard concerning an old conjure doctor known as Aunt Barkas.
"Aunt Darkas lived in McDonough, Ga, until a few years ago. She died when she was 128 years old; but, chile, lemme tell you that 'oman knowed just what ter do fer you. She was blind but she could go ter the woods and pick out any kind of root or herb she wanted. She always said the Lord told her what roots to get and always fore sun-up you would see her in the woods with a short handled pick.
She said she had ter pick 'em for sun-up; I don't know why. If you was sick all you had ter do was go ter see Aunt Darkas and tell her. She had a well and after listening to your complaint she would go out there and draw a bucket of water and set it on the floor, and then she would wave her hand over it and say something. She called this healing the water. After this she would give you a drink of water. As she hand it ter you, she would say, 'now drink, take this and drink.' Honey, I had some of that water myself and blieve me it goes all over you and makes you feel so good. Old Aunt Darkas would give you a supply of water and tell you ter come back fer more when that was gone. Old Aunt Darkas said the Lord gave her power and vision, and she used to fast for a week at a time. When she died there was a piece in the paper bout her.
"This here is sho the trufe, and if you don't believe it, go out ter Southview Cemetery and see Sid Heard, my oldest son; he been out there over 20 years as sexton and bookkeeper. Yessir, he tole it ter me and I believe it. This happen long ago, 10 or 15 years. There was a couple that lived in Macon, Ca., but their home was in Atlanta and they had a lot out ter Southview. Well, they had a young baby that tuck sick and died so they had the baby's funeral there in Macon; then they put the coffin in the box, placed the label on the box, then brought it ter Atlanta. Fokkee are always buried so that they head faces the east. They say when Judgment Day come and Gabriel blow that trumpet everybody will rise up facing the east. Well, as I was saying, they came here. Sid Heard met 'em out yonder and instructed his men far arrangements fer the grave and everything. A few weeks later the 'oman called Sid Heard up long distance. She said, 'Mr. Heafd.' Yesmam, he said. 'Icall youter tell you me and my husband can't rest at all. 'Why? 'he asked. 'Because we can hear our baby crying every night and it is worrying xx us ter death. Our neighbors next door say our baby must be buried wrong.' Sid Heard said, Well, I buried the baby according ter the way you got the box labeled. 'I am not blaming you, Mr. Heard, but if I pay you will you take my baby up?' Yesmam, I will if you want me to; jest let me know the day you will be here and I'll have everything ready. Alright, said she.
'Well, 'said Sid Heard, 'the day she was ter come she was sick and instead sent a car load of her friends. The men got busy and started digging till they got ter the box; when they too, it up sho nuff after they opened it, the found the baby had been buried wrong; the head was facing the west instead of the cast. They turned the box around and covered it up. The folks then went on back to Macon. A week later the 'omen called up again. 'Mr. Heard, she says. Yesmam, says he. 'Well, I haven't heard my baby cry at all in the past week. I wuzn't there but I know the exact date you took my baby up, cause I never heard it cry no more.""
Heard, Emmaline -- Additional Interview
Mrs. Emmaline Heard lives on Gain St. between Fort and Butler Sts. She is an ex-slave and on a previous occasion had given the writer an interesting account of slavery as she knew it. When the writer approached her concerning superstitions signs, ghost tales, conjure etc., Mrs. Heard's face became lit with interest and quickly assured the writer that she believed in conjuring, ghosts, and signs. It was not long before our interview began. Mrs. Heard, although seventy or seventy-five years old, is very intelligent in her expression of her different thoughts. This interview, as nearly as possible, was taken in the exact words of the person interviewed.
"If you are eating with a mouthful of food and sneeze, that sho is a true sign of death. I know that 'cause years ago I was havin' breakfast with my son Wylie and one other boy and Wylie sneezed and said "Mama I'm so sorry I jist couldn't help it the sneeze came on me so quick. I jist sat there and looked at him and began ter wonder. Two weeks later my brother rode up and announced my mother's death. That one sign thats true, yes sir.
If a picture falls off the wall some one in the family will die.
If you dream about teeth, if one falls out thats another sign of death.
Another sign of death jest as sho as you live is ter dream of a person named. I dreamed my son was naked but his body was covered with hair. Three months later he died. Yes sir, that sho is a true sign.
Jest as sho as your left hand itches you will receive money. If five pops on you from the stove, or fire place, you will get a letter.
If the left side of your nose itches a man is coming to the house. If it itches on the tip, he will come riding.
If the right side of your nose itches a woman is coming to the house.
Following are stories told to Mrs. Heard by her parents, which took place during the period of slavery. They are supposed to be true as they were experienced by the persons who told them.
"My mother told me a story that happened when she was a slave. When her Mistress whipped her she would run away ter the woods; but at night she would sneak back to nurse her babies. The plantation was on old McDonough road, so ter get ter the plantation she had ter come by a cemetery and you could see the white stones shining in the moonlight. This cemetery was near a cut in the road that people said was hanted and they still say old McDonough road is hanted. One night, mama said she was on her way to the plantation walking on the middle of the road and the moon was shining very bright. When she reached this cut she heard a noise, Clack! Clack! Clack!, and this noise reminded a person of a lot of machines moving. All at once a big thing as large as a house came down the side of the road. She said it looked like a lot of chains, wheels, posts all mangled together, and it seemed teat there were more wheels and chains than anything else. It kept on by making teat noise, clack! clack! clack!. She stood right still till it passed and came on ter the farm. On her way back she say she didn't see it any more, but right till ter day that spot is hanted. I have knowed horses to run away right there with people and hurt them. Then sometimes they have rared and kicked and turned to go in the other direction. You see, horses can see hants sometimes when folks can't. Now the reason for this cut being hanted was because old Dave Copeland used to whip his slaves to death and bury them along there."
The next story was told to Mrs. Heard by her father, who experienced it. as a slave boy.
"My father sed when he was a boy him and two more boys run away from the master 'cause the master whipped 'em. They set out and walked till it got dark, and they saw a big old empty house settin' lack from der road. Now this house was 3 or 4 miles from any other house. So they went in and made a fire, and laid down 'cause they was tired from running from the Pader rollers. Soon they heard something say tap! tap! tap!. down the stairs it came, a loud noise and then "Oh Lordy Master, I aint goin' do it no more; let me off this time. After a while they heard this same noise like a house falling in and the same words "Oh Lordy Master, I ant goin' do it no more. Let me off this time." By this time they had got good and scared, so my pa sed he and his friends looked at each other and got up and ran away from that house jest as fast as they could go. Nobody knowed why this old house was hanted: but they believed that some slaves had been killed in it."
The next is a story of the Jack O'lantern as told by Mrs. Heard.
"Old South River on the Jonesboro road is jest full of swampy land and on rainy drizzly night Jack O'lanterns will lead you. One night my uncle started at ter see his girl and he had ter go through the woods and the swamps. When he at in der swamp land he had ter cross a branch and the night was dark and drizzly, so dark you could hardly see your hand before your face. Way up the creek he saw a little bright light, so he followed it thinking he was on his way. All night long he sed he followed this light up and down the swamp, but never got near ter it. When day came he was still en the creek and had not gone any distance at all. He went me and told the folks and they went back ter the swamps and saw his tracks up and down in the mud. Later a group of 'em set out to find the Jack O'lantern and way down the creek they found it on a bush. It looked like soot hanging down from a bush, burnt out. My uncle went ter bed 'cause he was sleepy and tired down from walking all night."
The following three stories related by Mrs. Heard deals with practices of conjure. She definitely states that they are true stories; and backs up this statement by saying she is a firm believer in conjure.
"As I told you before, my daddy came from Virginia. He was bought there by Old Harper and brought ter McDonough as a slave boy. Well as the speculator drove along south, he learned who the different slaves were. When he got here he was told by the master to live with old uncle Ned 'cause he was the only bachelor on the plantation. The master said ter old Ned, "Well Ned. I have bought me a fine young plow boy. I want him ter stay with you and you treat him right. Every night uncle Ned would make a pallet on the floor for daddy and make him go to bed. When me got in bed he (uncle Ned) would watch him out of the corner of his eye, but daddy would pretend he was asleep and watch old uncle Ned to see what he was going ter do. After a while uncle Ned would take a broom and sweep the fireplace clean, then he would get a basket and take out of it a whole lot of little bundles wrapped in white cloth. As he lay out a package he would say "grass hoppers," "spiders", "scorpian," "snake heads", etc., then he would take the tongs and turn 'em around before the blaze so that they would parch. Night after night he would do this same thing until they had parched enough, then he would beat all of it together and make a powder; then put it up in little bags. My daddy was afraid ter ask old uncle Ned what he did with these bags, but heard he conjured folks with 'em. In fact he did conjure a gal 'cause she wouldn't pay him any attention. This gal was very young and preferred talking to the younger men, but uncle Hed always tried ter hang around her and help hoe, but she would always tell him to go do his own work 'cause she could do hers. One day he said ter her "All right madam, I'll see you later, you wont notice me now but you'll wish you had. When the dinner came, and they left the field they left their hoes standing so they would know jest where ter start when they got back. When that gal went back ter the field the minute she touched that noe she fell dead. Some fokks say they saw uncle Ned dressing that hoe with conjure.
"My sister Lizzie sho did get fixed, honey, and it took a old conjurer ter get the spell off of her. It was like this: Sister Lizzie had a pretty peachtree and one limb spreaded out over the walk and jest as soon as she would walk under this limb, she would stay sick all the time. The funny part 'bout it was that while she was at other folks house she would feel all right, but the minute she passed under this limb, she would begin ter feel bad. One day she sent for a conjurer, and he looked under the house, and sho nuff, he found it stuck in the sill. It looked like a bundle of rags, red flannel all stuck up with needles and every thing else. This old conjurer told her that the tree had been dressed for her and t'would be best fer her ter cut it down. It was a pretty tree and she sho did hate to cut it down, but she did like he told her. Yes child, I don't know whither I've ever been conjured or not, but sometimes my head hurts and I wonder."
Mrs. Heard asked the writer to return at a later date and she would probably be able to relate more interesting incidents.
(FOLKLORE, (Negro), Edwin Driskell)
Heard, Emmaline -- Additional Interview
Mrs. Emmaline Heard, who resides at 239 Cain St., H. E. has proved to be a regular storehouse for conjure and ghost stories. Not only this but she is a firm believer in the practice of conjure. To back up her belief in conjure is her appearance. She is a dark browned skinned woman of medium height and always wears a dirty towel on her head. The towel which was at one time white gives her the weird look of an old time fortune teller. Tuesday December 8, 1936 a visit was made to her home and the following information was secured.
"There was onst a house in McDonough and it was owned by the Smiths that was slave owners way back yonder. Now this is the trufe 'cause it was told ter me by old Uncle Joe Turner and he 'spirense it. Nobody could live in this how I don't care how they tried. Dey say this house was hanted and any body that tried to stay there was pulled out of bed by a hant. Well sir they offered the house and $1000.00 to any one who could stay there over night. Uncle Joe sed he decided to try it so sho nuff he got ready one night and went ter this house to stay. After while says he something came in the room and started over ter the bed; but fore it got there he sed "What in the name of the Lord you wont with me. It sed "follow me there is a pot of gold buried near the chimney; go find it and you want be worried with me no more. Der next morning Uncle Joe went out then and begin ter dig and sho nuff he found the gold; and sides that he got the house. Dis here is the trufe Uncle Joes' house is right there in McDonough now and any body round there will tell you the same thing cause he was well known. Uncle Joe is dead now."
Anudder story that happened during slavery time and was told ter me by father was this: The master had a old man on his plantation named Jimson. Well Jimson's wife was sick and had been fer nearly a year. One day there she wanted some peas black eyed peas; but old man Harper didn't have none on his plantation so Jimson planned ter steal off that night and go ter old marse Daniels farm, which was 4 miles from Moore Harpers farm, and steal a few peas fer his wife. Well between mid-night and day he got a sack and started off down the road. Long after while a owl started hootin who o-o-o are e-e-e, who are e-e-e- and it sounded jest lak some one saying who are you". Jimson got scared pulled off his cap and ran all the way to old man Daniels farm. As he run he was saying "Sir dis is me. Old Jimson" over and over again. Now when he got near the farm old Daniel heard him and got up in the loft ter watch him. Finally old Jimson got dar and started creeping up in the loft. When he got up there chile Marse Daniel grabbed his whip and almost beat Jimson ter death".
This here story happended in Mississippi years ago but der folks that tell it ter me sed it was the trufe. "There was a woman that was sick, her name was Mary Jones. Well she lingered and lingered till she finally died. In them days folks all around would come ter the settin up of somebody was dead. They done sent some men after the casket since they had ter go 30 miles they was a good while getting back so the folkses decided ter sing. After while they heared the men come up on the porch er somebody got up ter let im in. Chile jest as they opened the door that 'oman set straight up on that bed, and sack another runnin and gittin out of that house you never heard; but some folks realized she wuzn't dead so they got the casket out der way so the wouldn't see it cause they was fraid she would pass out. sho nuff; just the same they was fraid of her too. The man want off and come bake with pistols guns, sticks and every thing and when this 'oman saw em she sed don't run I want bother you" but child they left there in a big hurry too. Well this here Mary went to her sister's house and knocked on the door and said "Let me in this is Mary I want to talk to you and tell you where I've been. The sisters' husband opened the door and let her in. This 'oman told 'em that God had brought her to and that she had been in a trance with the Lord. After that everyone was always afraid of that 'oman and they wouldn't even sit next 'ter her in church. They say she is still living.
This happened right yonder in McDonough years ago. A gal went to a party with her sweet'art and her ma told her not ter go well she went on any how in a buggy. When they got ter the railroad crossing a train hit the buggy, and killed the gal; but the boy didn't get hurted at all. Well while they was sittin up with this dead gal, the boy comes long there in his buggy with anudder gal in the buggy; and do you know that horse stopped right in front 'uv that house and wouldn't bulge one inch. No matter how hard he whipped that horse it would'nt move instid he rared and kicked and jumped about and almost turned the buggy over. The gal in the buggy fainted. Finally a old slavery time man come along and told em to git a quart of whiskey and pour it around the buggy and the hant would go away so they did that and the spirit let 'em pass. If a han't laked whiskey in they lifetime and you pour it round when theys at they will go away.
The following are true conjure stories supposedly witnessed by Mrs. Heard.
There was a Rev. Dennis that lived below the Federal Prison now he was the preacher of the hard shell baptist church in this community; This man stayed sick about a year and kept gittin different doctors and none 'uv them did him any good well his wife kept on at him till he decided ter go ter see Dr. Geech. His complaint was that he felt something run up his legs ter his thighs. Old Dr. Geech told him that he had snakes in his body and they was put there by the lady he had been going wid. Dr. Geech give him some medicine ter take and told him that on the 7th day from then that 'oman would come and take the medicine off the shelf and throw it away. Course Rev. Dennis didn't believe a thing he sed so sho nuff she come jest lak Dr. Geech sed and took the medicine away. Dr. Guch told him that he would die when the snakes got up in his arm. But if he would do lak he told him he would get alright. Dis 'oman had put this stuff in some whiskey and he drunk it so the snakes breed in his body. After he quit taking the medicine he got bad off and had ter stay in the bed; sho nuff the morning he died. You could see the snake in his arm, the print uv it was thene. When he died the snake stretched out in his arm and died too."
I got a son named Jack Heard, well somebody fixed him. I was in Chicago when that happened and my daughter kept writing ter me ter come home cause Jack was acting funny and she thought maybe he was losing his mind. They was living in Thomasville then and-every day he would go sit round the store and laugh and talk but jest as soon as night would come and he would eat his supper them fits would come on him. He would squeal jest lak a pig and he would get down on his knees and bark jest lak a dog. Well I come home and went ter see a old conjure doctors. He says ter me," that boy is hurt and when you go home you look in the corner of the mattress and you will find it. Sho nuff I went home and looked in the corner uv the mattress and there the package. It was a mixture of hair his hair and blue stone wrapped up in red flannel with new needles running all through it. When I want back he says ter me", Emmaline have you got 8 dimes no I sed but I got a dollar. Well get that dollar changed inter 10 dimes and take s 'uv em and give 'em ter me. Then he took Jack in a room took off his clothes and started ter rubbing him down with medicine all the same time, he was n saying a ceremony over him, then he took them 8 dimes put 'em in a bag and tied them around Jacks Chest some where so that they would hang over his heart. Now wear them always says he ter Jack. Jack wore them dimes a long time but he finally drunk 'em up. Any way that doctor cured him 'cause he sho woulda died.
The following is a few facts, as related by Mrs. Heard, concerning an old conjure doctor known as Aunt Darkas.
"Aunt Darkas lived in McDonough, Georgia until a few years ago. She died when she was 128 years old; but chile lemme tell you that 'oman knowed jest what ter do fer you. She was blind but she could go ter the woods and pick out any kind of root or herb she wanted. She always sed the Lord told her what roots to get and always fore sun up you would see her in the woods with a short handled pick. She sed she had ter pick 'em fore sun up, I don't know why. If you was sick all you had ter do was go to see Aunt Darkas and tell her. She had a well and after listening to your complaint she would go out there and draw a bucket of water and set it on the floor and then she would wave her hand over it and say something. She called this healing the water. After this she would give you a drink of water as she handed it ter you she would say, now drink, take this and drink. Honey, I had some uv that water myself and believe me it goes all over you and makes you feel so good. Old Aunt Darkas would give you a supply of water and tell you ter come back fer more when that was gone. Old Aunt Darkas sed the Lord gave her power and vision and she used ter fast fer a week at a time. When she died there was a piece in the paper 'bout her."
This here is sho the trufe and if you don't go out ter South view Cemetary and see Sid Heard my oldest son he been out there over 20 years as sexton and book keeper. Yessir he tole it tar me and I believe it. This happen long ago 10 or 15 years. There was a couple that lived in Macom, Ga,
but their home was in Atlanta and they had a lot out ter South View. Well they had a young baby that tuck sick and died so they had the babies funeral there in Macon then they put the coffin in the box placed the lable on the box then brought it ter Atlanta. Folkses are always buried so that they head faces the east. They say when judgement day come and Gabriel blow that trumpet every body will rise up facing the east. Well as I was saying they come here Sid Heard met im out yonder and instructed his men fer arrangements fer the grave and everything. A few weeks later the 'oman called Sid Heard up long distance. She said Mr. Heard "Yesmam he said "I call you tar tell you me and my husband can't rest attall "Why he asked, " because we can hear our baby crying every night and it is worrying us ter death our neighbors next door says our baby must be buried wrong. Sid Heard sed "Well I buried the baby according ter the way you got the box labled. "I'm not blaming you Mr. Heard but if I pay you will you take my baby up? Sed she "Yes Mam I will if you won't me to jest let me know the my day you will be here and I'll have everything ready". Alright, "sed she. "Well sed Sid Heard the day she was ter come she was sick and instead sent a carload of her friends. The men got busy and started digging till they got ter the box, when they took it up sho nuff after they opened it they found the baby had been buried wrong the head was facing the west instead of the east. They turned the box around and covered it up. The folks then went on back ter Macon. A week later the 'oman called up again. Mr, Heard she says "Yes maem" says he. Well I haven't heard my baby cry at all in the past week I wuzn't there but I know the exact date you took my baby up, cause I never heard it cry no more".
Heard, Emmaline -- Additional Interview
On December 3 and 4, 1936, Mrs. Emmaline Heard was interviewed at her home, 239 Cain Street. The writer had visited Mrs. Heard previously, and it was at her own request that another visit was made. This visit was supposed to be one to obtain information and stories on the practice of conjure. On two previous occasions Mrs. Heard's stories had proved very interesting, and I knew as I sat there waiting for her to begin that she had something very good to tell me. She began!
"Chile, this story was told ter me by my father and I knoes he sho wouldn't lie. very word of it is the trufs; fact, everything I ebber told you was the trufe. Nos, my pa had a brother, old Uncle Martin, and his wife was name Julianne. Aunt Julianne used ter have spells and fight and kick all the time. They had doctor after doctor but none did her any good. Somebody told Uncle Martin to go ter a old conjurer and lot the doctors go cause they wan't doing nothing fer her anyway. She nuff he got one ter come see her and give her some medicine. This old man said she had bugs in her head, and after giving her the medicine he started rubbing her head. While he rubbed her head he said! 'Dar's a bug in her head; it looks jest like a big black roach. Now, he's coming out of her head through her sar; whatever you do, don't lot him get away couse I out him. Whatever you do, catch him; he's going tor run, but when he hits the pillow, grab 'em. I'm go take him and turn it back on the one sho is trying ter send you ter the greva.' She nuff that bug drap out her our and flew; she hollered, and old Uncle Martin run in the room, snatched the bed clothes off but they never did find him. Aunt Julianna never did got better and soon she died. The conjurer said if they had a caught the bug she would a Rived."
The next story is a true story. The facts as told by Mrs. Heard were also witnessed by har; an it deals with the conjuring of one of her sons. It is related in her exact words on nearly as possible.
I got a son named Albert Heard. He is living and well; but chile, there was a time when he was almost ter his grave. I was living in town then, and Albert and his wife was living in the country with their two chillun. Well, Albert got down sick and he could go ter doctors, and go ter doctors, but they didn't do him any good. I was worried ter death cause I had ter run backards and for'ards and it was a strain on me. He was suffering with a knot on his right side and he couldn't even fasten his shoes cause it pained him so, and it was so bad he couldn't even button up his pants. A 'oman teached school out there by the name of Mrs. Yancy; she's dead now but she lived right hare on Randolph Street years ago. Well, one day when I was leaving Albert's house I met her on the way fro her school. 'Good evening, Mrs. Heard,' she says. 'How is Mr. Albert?' I don't hardly know, I says, cause he don't get no better. She looked at me kinda funny and said, don't you believe he's hurt?' Yes man, I said, I sho do. 'Well,' says she, 'I been waiting to say something to you concerning this but I didn't know how you would take it. If I tell you somewhere ter go will you go, and tell them I sent you?' Yes man, I will do anything if Albert saw get better. 'All right then', she says. 'Catch the Federal Prison car and get off at Butter St.' In then days that car came down Forrest Ave. 'When you get to Butler St.', she says, 'walk up to Clifton St. end go to such and such a number. Knock on the door and a 'oman by the name of Mrs. Mrshpeth will come ter the door. Fore she lot you in she go ack who sent you there; when you tell 'er she'll let you in. Now lemme tell you she keeps two quarts of whisky all the time and you have ter drink a little with her; sides that she cusses nearly every word she speaks; but don't let that scare you; she will sho got your son up if it kin be done.' She nuff that old 'oman did jest lak Mrs. Yancy said she would do. She had a harsh voice and she spoke right snappy. When she let me in she said, sit down. You lak whisky?' I said, well, I take a little drem sometimes. Well, here take some of this', she said. I poured a little bit and drank it kinda lak I was afraid. She cused and said 'I ain't go conjure you. Drink it.' She got the cards and told so to cut 'em, so I did. Lookin at the cards, she said: 'You like ter wait too long; they got his marching to the cemetery. The poor thing! I'll fix those devils. ( A profane word was used instead of devils). He got a knot on his side, ain't he?' Yes, Mam, I said. That 'oman told me everything that was wrong with Albert and zackly how he acted. All at once she said: 'If them d--d things had hatched in him it would a been too late. If you do zackly lak I tell you I'll get him up from there.' I sho will, I told her. 'Well, there's a stable sets cast of his house. His house got three rooms and a path go straight to the stable. I see it there were he hangs his harness. Yes, I see it all, the devils: Have you got my money?' Yes, mam, a little, I said. 'All right then,' she said. 'Go to the drug store and get 5 cents worth of blue stone; 5c wheat bran; and go ter a fish market and ask 'am ter give you a little fish brine; then go in the woods and got some poke-root berries. Now, there's two kinds of poke-root berries, the red skin and the white skin berry. But all this in a pot, six with it the guts from a green gourd and 9 parts of red pepper. Make a poultice and put to his side on that knot. How, listen, your son will be afraid and think you are trying ter do something ter him but be gentle and persuade him that its fer his good.' Child, he she did act funny when I told him I wanted to treat his side. I had ter toll him I was carrying out doctors orders no he could get well. He reared and fussed and said he didn't want that mess on him. I told him the doctor says you do very well till you go ter the horse lot than you go blind and you can't see. He looked at me. 'Sho nuff, Ma, be said, 'that sho is the trufe. I have ter always call one of the chillun when I go there cause I can't see how ter got back ter the house.' Well, that convinced tin and he let so fix the medicine for him. I put him ter bed and made the poultice, then I put it ter his side. Now this 'oman said no one was ter take it off the next morning but me. I was suppose ter fix three, one each night, and after taking each one off ter bury it lak dead folks is buried, east and west, and ter make a real grave out of each one. Well, when I told him not ter move it the next morning, but let me move it, he got funny again and wanted to know why. Do you know I had ter play lak I could move it without messing up my bed clothes and if be moved it he right waste it all. Finally he said he would call me the next morning. Sho nuff, the next morning he called me, ma! ma! come take it off. I went in the room and he was sailing. I slept all night long he said, and I feel so much better. I'm so glad, I said, and do you know he could reach down and fasten up his shoe and it had been a long time since he could do that. Later that day I slipped out and made my first grave under the fig bush in the garden. I even put up head boards, too. That night Albert said, 'Bama, fix another one. I feel so much better.' I she will, I said. Thank God you're better; so far three nights I fixed poultices and put ter his side and each morning he would tell me how much better he felt. Then the last morning I was fixing breakfast and he cat in the next room. After while Albert jumped up and hollered, Mal Mal' What is it, I said, 'Mame, that knot is gone. It dropped down in my pants.' What! I cried. Where is it? Chile, we looked but we didn't find anything, but the knot had she gone. Der 'oman had told me ter come back when the knot moved and she would tell me what else ter do. That same day I want ter see her and when I told her she just shouted, 'I fixed 'em the devils! Now, says she, do you where you can get a few leaven off a yellow peachtree. It must be a yellow peach tree, though. Yes, mam, I says to her. I have a yellow peachtree right there in my yard. Well, she says, get a handful of leaves, then take a knife and serape the bark up, then make a tea and give his so it will heal up the poison from that knot in his side, also mix a few jimson weeds with it. I come home and told him I tented ter give him a ten. He got soared and said, what for, Ma? I had ter tell him I was still carrying out the doctor's orders. Well, he lot me give him the ten and that boy get well. I went back to Mrs. Hirshpath and told her my son was well and I wanted to pay her. Go on, she said, keep the dollar and send your chillun ter school. This sho happened ter me end I know people kin fix you. Yes sir.
The next story was told to Mrs. Renrd by Mrs. Hirshpath, the woman who cured her son.
I used to go see that 'oman quite a bit and even sent some of my friends tar her. One day while I was there she told me about this piece of work she did.
"There was a young man and his wife and they worked for some white folks. They had jest married and was trying ter save some money ter buy a home with. All at onct the young man went blind end it almost run him and his wife crazy cause they didn't know what in the world ter do. Well, somebody told him and her about Mrs. Hirshpath, no they went ter see her. One day, sayd Mrs. Hirshpath, a big fine carriage drew up in front of her door and the coachman helped him to her door. She asked him she sent him end he told her. She only charged 50 for giving advice and after you was cured it was up ter you to give her what you wanted to. Well, this man gave her 50 cents and she talked ter him. She says, boy, you go home and don't you at that cap on no more. What cap? he says. That cap you wears ter clean up the stables with, cause somebody done dressed that cap for you, and every time you perspire and it run down ter your eyes it makes you blind. You jest get that cap and bring it ter me. I'll fix 'em; they's trying ter make you blind, but I go let you see. The boy was overjoyed, and she nuff he next back and brought her that cap, and it wuzn't long fore he could see good ex you and me. He brought that 'oman 50 cents, but she wouldn't take but 25 cents and give the other 25 cents back ter him.
"That I done told you in the trufe, every ward of it; I know some other things that happened but you come back anudder day for that."
